Looking Back: The Top Five Most Terribly Awful Films from 2010!

While there were plenty of great films to see in 2010, many still failed to impress and, in some cases, were laughable and unbearable to watch. Of course there are some films that I was able to avoid at all costs, and while they may be worthy of an mention on here, I can't officially riff on the romantic comedy You Again, the Hanna-Barbera grave-turner Yogi Bear, action-comedies Killers or The Bounty Hunter, garbage like Furry Vengeance and many others. Though these may not definitively be the Five Most Terribly Awful Films from 2010, they're definitely the five worst films I've actually subjected myself to this year.

#5 - Grown Ups

You might think that a huge reunion of Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Kevin James (no matter how unfunny he might be) could deliver some semblance of a decent comedy with some heart. However, this film is anything but grown up and instead opts to piss in the pool (literally and figuratively). While I admit there's a couple laughs to be had, the extremely brief moments of funny are the equivalent of putting a few squirts of chocolate syrup in a used litter box. Parts of it will taste all right, but you really have to struggle to get through it, and there's still shit buried all over the place.

Most of the shit comes from the fact that this is a sloppy, insignificant and completely heartless version of The Big Chill. The attempts at genuine coming-of-age moments between the characters, and reflections of friendship and the good ole days are tainted with mediocre comedy. Adam Sandler is better than this junk in almost every way, but he has a soft spot for making generic comedies with his buddies nowadays as opposed to memorable comedic work like in Happy Gilmore or The Wedding Singer, or even great completely dramatic turns in Punch-Drunk Love and Reign Over Me. But that's not what we got here.

#4 - Clash of the Titans

My dislike and general criticism of Sam Worthington is no secret, but way back in March, I was willing to give him a chance at being a truly badass, epic hero. Well, he was bad all right, unfortunately so was nearly every single aspect of this poor excuse for a remake. Forget the fact that a rushed 3D conversion made it the most expensive motion pop-up book ever. Why? Because even the most technologically advanced 3D cameras couldn't bring any depth to the flat story, two-dimensional characters and weak climax.

Not even the release of the Kraken could deliver a decent action sequence since it took almost the entirety of the climax for the damn thing to get out of the water before it turned to stone. By that point I was already stricken dumb anyway, so I suppose it didn't really matter. Interestingly enough, this film marked the better appearance of Gemma Arterton as an exposition-filled, hollow shell of a female character, while the other, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, just barely escaped this list of the worst five films of the year.

#3 - The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Chronicles of Narnia franchise has taken hits for being a childish version of Lord of the Rings and while that's not necessarily much of a negative observation, with this third installment it's clear this series has lost its steam. This time that point seems much more valid though as the film also attempts to become a kiddie version of Pirates of the Caribbean, with a cheap theft of a key plot point in Ghostbusters and no real villain in sight. But that's not the biggest issue.While those familiar with the series are very much aware of the symbolism referencing Christianity, it seems like the writers decided to dispense with any of the subtlety and metaphors from the first few films and essentially adapt The Bible into an action flick.

Also, this time Edmund and Lucy are on their own in Narnia (no Susan or Peter), but they're stuck with the idiot cousin Eustace, who's not a far cry from cousin Oliver in later episodes of "The Brady Bunch." But even without that painfully annoying and stupid character (even beyond the intention of the writers), our heroes don't have much to do except fight temptation, thereby making the themselves the hardest villain to overcome. That just doesn't translate well to screen, and neither do the performance of our young lead actors. And while a last ditch effort is made to have a real epic with a monster appearing as a result of Edmund thinking of the thing he fears the most (it's a sea serpent rather than the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man), the film cannot be saved by this sequence alone.

#2 - The Last Airbender

Try as he might, M. Night Shyamalan didn't make my pick for the worst film of 2010, but he came pretty damn close. Doesn't get worse than a convoluted script composed almost entirely with expository voiceover, atrocious acting from talents both young and old and some of the most sloppy storytelling I've ever seen. Not even a 3D conversion helped this film look all flashy since everything just looked colorless, foggy and unbelievably artificial (and not in a consciously stylistic way). It was like watching a boring video game.

Interestingly enough, one of the biggest complaints about this film comes from what became known as "racebending" with several of the main characters being portrayed by an actor outside of the ethnicity described in the source material. As much as I would have liked to see the movie be more truthful to the original TV series, if the script is any indicator, they could've gotten the finest actors money can buy, and it wouldn't have made one bit of difference. "We have to show them that we believe in our beliefs as much as they believe in theirs." Yep, that's a real line of dialogue… and I think that says it all.

#1 - Jonah Hex

It wasn't enough that Josh Brolin talked like he had Bell's palsy with half his face paralyzed, but this shitty excuse for a comic book western had to go and paralyze my brain for less than an hour and a half. Brolin does the best with what he's given, but the same can't be said for his supporting cast. Megan Fox walks around, shaking her ass and delivering lines like a ventriloquist dummy, John Malkovich acts the way he does in every single movie (and he doesn't fit within the confines of a western as he does in films like Burn After Reading), and I don't know what the hell Will Arnett is doing in this flick at all… which is just crazy.

The wacky, adrenaline fueled duo of Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor had their script torn apart before the film ever went into production, but that's no excuse for a shitty final product. And of course, the "story" suffers as there's no explanation, or even justification for Jonah Hex's powers. From an almost non-existent story to what might be the worst climax/final battle in motion picture history, Jonah Hex has more issues than the scarred face. This is even more sad considering Jonah Hex has a rich history of comics from which to create a decent film, but Hollywood decided throw feces at the screen like a monkey instead. Well done!

Well, those are my picks for the five worst films that I had the misfortune of seeing this year. I'm sure some of you have seen far worse films this year, or may have even liked a few of these, and I would love to hear a reasonable defense for any of them. So feel free to "sound off" below and let us know what you think of this list, then toss up your own in the comments, too. Of course, with the "bad", there's also the "good" so stay tuned for my Top 10 Films in the very near future as we finish up looking back at 2010. Sound off below!

Reader Feedback - 92 Comments

1

I disagree with your list 95 percent. You got poor choice and bad taste in films if you think most of these are the worst of the year. Here it is. The real bad movies of the year. #5: Little Fockers. #4: The Last Airbender. #3: Skyline. #2: Gulliver's Travels. #1: Vampire's Suck.

Tomyend on Jan 7, 2011

2

with so many movies being made on a yearly basis - it's too hard to narrow it down to a "top 5" good or bad movies.
at the top of the bad list has to be "bounty hunter" or "gullivers travels". "last airbender" is near the top with "yogi bear" and "grown-ups" also on there as well.
as far as the above list - "clash of the titans" shouldn't be on it. it was only average but no way was it one of the worst.

Anonymous on Jan 7, 2011

3

with so many movies being made on a yearly basis - it's too hard to narrow it down to a "top 5" good or bad movies.
at the top of the bad list has to be "bounty hunter" or "gullivers travels". "last airbender" is near the top with "yogi bear" and "grown-ups" also on there as well.
as far as the above list - "clash of the titans" shouldn't be on it. it was only average but no way was it one of the worst.

Anonymous on Jan 7, 2011

4

Narnia was one of the best not one of the worst.

David Sutton on Jan 7, 2011

5

I agree I liked the Narnia Movie Because they followed the damn book for a change instead of doing a Spielberg on it. Another bad one is True Grit remake. You CANNOT beat John Wayne as rooster Cogburn with anyone period.

Anonymous on Mar 12, 2011

6

I find it interesting that you say I have "poor choice and bad taste in films" simply because I didn't see the films that you thought were more terrible. If anything it proves the opposite since I didn't even think about subjecting myself to Vampires Suck.

You sound like an arrogant troll. He can dislike whatever he wants. You don't have to agree with him but at least be respectful of someone else's opinion.

Phil on Jan 28, 2011

8

I enjoyed watching #5 #4 and #1, they are not great movies but are watchable. I would have put Devil on the list before any of those 3... I have not seen Dawn Treader yet but the Last Airbender is perfect for the 2010 worst list.

Desraider on Jan 7, 2011

9

I only saw 3 of the 5 mentioned. While I agree with Airbender, I think there were worse films ie: Skyline. But it seems like you're choosing movies that were SUPPOSE to be good (budget, hype, source material) but really fell short.
Either way: My top five (that I saw):
5. Date Night
4. Jonah Hex
3. Percy Jackson
2. Skyline
1. Last Air Bender - This one has taken the top spot on my list of ALL TIME WORST movies, even over BATTLEFIELD EARTH & BATMAN & ROBIN

I thought Percy Jackson was pretty good...and my kids loved The Last Airbender (although, admittedly, I did not). And personally, I think the movie Freddy Got Fingered is the worst movie ever made...

Anonymous on Jan 7, 2011

12

Wow... that's harsh. I didn't think ANYTHING could be worse than Battlefield Earth. Now I kinda want to Netflix Airbender just out of morbid curiosity.

Tenacious V on Jan 7, 2011

13

You might be disappointed with Airbender, Tenacious V. It doesn't deliver anything... even in a "so bad it's good" kind of way. Have you seen or heard of Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate? I would go as far as saying that The Last Airbender is Shyamalan's Heaven's Gate.

Phil on Jan 28, 2011

14

Don't. You'll regret it. As well as being atrocious for all the reasons mentioned above, it's painfully uninvolving. I rented it and turned it off after 20 minutes.

Guest on Jan 28, 2011

15

I snuck into Skyline and still wanted my money back
and Battlefield Earth would've been better if Travolta didn't go all scientologist on the writers.

Zxasd6890 on Jan 8, 2011

16

If Skyline was an in-flight movie, people would still walk out.

voodoo2 on Jan 8, 2011

17

Dude, the movie was based on a book written by the guy who created scientology. Travolta wasn't the one who went all scientologist on it, the entire concept of the movie was basically a scientology marketing gimmick.

Anonymous on Jan 9, 2011

18

I like Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief.

Anonymous on Mar 12, 2011

19

you forgot about The Expendables

Logan on Jan 7, 2011

20

Looks like someone totally skipped 'Skyline'. Which is about what 98% of movie-going public also did. That might qualify as the worst movie of the past decade...

Jim Mc on Jan 7, 2011

21

Skyline was a heaping, steaming pile of crap. Definitely would have made my top 5.

Tenacious V on Jan 7, 2011

22

clash of the titans and grown ups weren't that bad

jiji on Jan 7, 2011

23

Skyline must have been there in this list. It's the worst film that I've seen last year.

vr on Jan 7, 2011

24

Last Airbender is one of the worst films ever made.
Just don't know how a talented director could have fallen so low

Have Hope on Jan 7, 2011

25

Shyamalan has been living off of The Sixth Sense for the past eleven years. The only thing he's been talented at is consistently making duds since then.
When Mark Wahlberg (of all people) publicly criticizes your movie, something's definitely wrong.

J.P. on Jan 24, 2011

26

Lol is this a joke? In a year full of absolutely godawful movies, you picked these five? Most of these aren't good, but they aren't worst five of the year..... wow.

Chazzy on Jan 7, 2011

27

5.Sex and the City 2
4.Expendables
3.Salt
2.Jonah Hex
1.Date Night
Most of these movies had great talent that just didn't deliver.

jjking on Jan 7, 2011

28

Im glad someone else is noticing Angelina Jolie makes the same damn movie over and over again and that to be honest her acting isnt great... ALso the script was weak if you ask me. I didnt get what the goal even was for the film.

Djscontrino on Apr 5, 2011

29

Guys, like I said in the very last sentence of the opening paragraph:
"Though these may not definitively be the Five Most Terribly Awful Films from 2010, they're definitely the five worst films I've actually subjected myself to this year."
I haven't seen "films" like Vampire's Suck and I've yet to subject myself to Little Fockers. These are the five movies that had me bored in my seat, baffled and angry all at the same time. Like I said, my picks won't match up with yours, so just tell me what you guys think are the worst movies. It's a discussion!
PS: Skyline just barely got cut from the list, and I agree that it was absolutely terrible.

Dawn Treader really seems to be a film that is appreciated more by those familiar with the source material. You were looking for more action and a real villain? Well the movie brought more of both into the story than the book did.

theweatherman on Jan 8, 2011

35

Hey don't go. Here's you chance to blast the perps and get ever for producing movie crap and wasting millions of dollars that they could give to me.

Anonymous on Mar 12, 2011

36

I haven't seen those movies, i've the trailers on a few a that's about it.
But a shocker for me was "Our Family Wedding", the trailer is better than the movie.
Dog Pound, Eat Pray Love, Barry Munday and Our Family Wedding, these 4 got below 6 for me, and i usually stay away from below 6 movies.

AdyShearer on Jan 7, 2011

37

I would put the Expendables on this list. A movie filled with action guys and it only contained 5% action. I didn't pay $10 to watch Stallone try to remember his lines.

Johnny G on Jan 7, 2011

38

Ethan is probably my favorite writer on this site. He comes across like a cynical, sarcastic asshole, which is right down my alley and I strongly prefer it over the annoying purple prose of some others.
That being said, I don't necessarily agree with Clash of the Titans on that list, even though it was no doubt a huge let-down, but the other movies mentioned where definitely one of the shittiest I've ever seen.

SuicidalOptimist on Jan 7, 2011

39

That seems a little harsh man... he's just getting a little rant-y about a few movies, it's the end of the year, let him have fun, no need to get so worked up about it! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. What are your 5 least favorite movies of 2010?

Oh, you both misunderstood what I was trying to say, my bad. I didn't get worked up about it at all; I absolutely love the way Ethan writes! I'm a pretty cynical bitch and thrive on sarcasm and snarky remarks. Maybe I have a weird sense of humor, but he always makes me laugh with his write-ups, so by all mean...rant away.

SuicidalOptimist on Jan 7, 2011

41

what you were trying to say was very clear. Maybe i have a weird sense of humor too. For sure very different from the one of Alex (and probably that's why I almost never agree with what he says)....

micoy on Jan 8, 2011

42

Hahahaha...I guess I should say thanks, but I'm not sure this is all that complimentary.

I would have put clash of the titans worst, there was nothing in that film that was even adequate. Terrible acting, horrible script, action scenes filmed so you couldn't tell what was happening at times, and the comic relief characters made me want to hang myself.

Varvazovsky on Jan 7, 2011

44

skyline just the worst of the worst.

judas on Jan 7, 2011

45

ok, take a chill pill Ethan and rephrase the title: "Most terribly Awful Films from 2010 THAT I EXPECTED MUCH MORE FROM". let's be honest, movies like skyline, or Sex and the city, Guliver's travels, percy fucking jackson crap, those were movies i would have slit my wrists if i was in the theatre and knew i paid money to see this shit. Your list is ok, but i repeat NOT the worst. Oh there were so many..just refresh your memory.

Redguy812 on Jan 7, 2011

46

With this past years worth of crap we were all subjected to it might have been easier to compile a list of like 2 movie which were ehh ok...i guess

Jimmy Love on Jan 7, 2011

47

Yo back up off Date Night homes. It was decent not great but kind of what I expected from those two. Its not like Tina Fey and Steve Carell have a great track record, with the exception being 40-year-old Virgin. And Expendables was off the chain because it never tried to be more than it promised to be. If you were looking transcending actors to explore new emotions with on screen then maybe a movie with Rambo and the guy who did Cranked isn't for you

Dee on Jan 7, 2011

48

"That's amazing, Jeremy, but I'm gonna go home now and look at my vagina in a hand mirror."
Date Night was hilarious. xD

SuicidalOptimist on Jan 7, 2011

49

Picking the worse of 2010 is akin to choosing the nastiest pie in the cow pasture -- so much shit, so little time. But dude, the possibilities...

97point6 on Jan 7, 2011

50

you forgot about case 39.

Sickdoghats2 on Jan 7, 2011

51

How could you miss Skyline? Forget 2010, That was one of the worst films I have seen in all my 31 years on this Earth! And what makes me even more angry was that I paid to watch it!

Lagoya on Jan 7, 2011

52

List is perfect. Bravo!

GCC on Jan 7, 2011

53

Tooth Fairy made me want to kill my self

DoomCanoe on Jan 7, 2011

54

I think I'm the only person on the planet who didn't think jonah hex was that bad

Markymark_10 on Jan 7, 2011

55

I actually thought it was pretty good. The first half set up a better movie than the second half delivered, but I liked it. The acting, camerawork, editing--hell, mostly everything (except for the obviously gutted script)--all of it worked pretty well. I most certainly saw worse movies this year.

Orcasisla on Jan 11, 2011

56

Yeah none of those are hardly candidates to be saved in teh Smithsonian or wherever they keep the movies that are cultuerally significant (like they just did with Empire Strikes Back), but I don't think Titans was that bad. Not spectacular by any means but still entertaining. I have not seen Grown Ups or the new Narnia (though I plan to see it within the week) but Airbendre ticked me off becasue it had so much potential with the story and it came across so bland I could never care what happened. If the main characters died, I woudln't miss them. Then Jonah Hex....................................................
........................................................I got nothing. Just glad I got it from teh library so it didn't cost me anything. Other than, of coourse, the 80 minutes of my life I spent watching it.

jjboldt on Jan 7, 2011

57

meh I've seen worse.

Xerxex on Jan 7, 2011

58

Personally, Dinner for Schmucks was a colossal letdown. One of the few times I deeply regretting shelling out nine bucks for a movie.

Ty on Jan 7, 2011

59

I haven't seen any of these movies. If something has all bad reviews its probably not good, so don't see it.

Ivan Langham on Jan 8, 2011

60

The Expendables was amazing. PS Sam Worthington is a god. ZING!

David on Jan 8, 2011

61

This list sucks i have seen worse this year

Splinter on Jan 8, 2011

62

you should stop going to the movies then. you apparently have even worst taste in movies than everyone else on this board

AgentM on Feb 27, 2011

63

Are you kidding me? Skyline wasn't that bad, and Vampires Suck wasn't supposed to be a good movie, it was just a bunch of actors making fun of movies and I thought it was pretty funny.
Also, Salt and the Expendables; you can't be serious, and how dare anyone make fun of Percy Jackson. I think the list was pretty spot on. M. Night will not be forgiven for The Last Airbender.

Lamar on Jan 8, 2011

64

"Vampires Suck wasn't supposed to be a good movie."
Yes, because those filmmakers totally put all that money so they can make a shitty movie. Come on, that's a shitty defense of a shitty movie and you know it.

SkaOreo on Jan 8, 2011

65

You lost a lot of credibility with your knock on Sam Worthington....he was about the only positive in Terminator Salvation...was awesome in Avatar.
The guy is a great actor and looks great on film.

Geoff on Jan 8, 2011

66

Worthington Sucks dot dot dot The Life Out Of Every Film He's In. His Dry Acting Made Him Tolerable In Terminator Only Because His Acting Is Robotic.

............ on Jan 10, 2011

67

Agreed. Worthington is charisma-free and for the life of me I can't understand why he's been toplining all these high-profile films. He's completely forgettable and he can't act. So...who's he schtupping? Must be someone very high up.

fritanga on Jan 21, 2011

68

Worst for me was the new Nightmare on Elm Street that movie sucks monkey nuts.

CLAW on Jan 8, 2011

69

I haven't seen Last Airbender, Grown Ups, or Narnia, but based on what I heard, I don't plan on seeing them...ever. But I agree with Jonah Hex and Titans... both were really bad.
Other movies that really let me down include: Nightmare on Elm St. (Freddy does NOT shuffle like an old man!); Resident Evil Afterlife (the 3D was really wonky in parts), Skyline (absolutely dreadful); I'm sure there are others, but I've erased those from my memory.

Greg on Jan 8, 2011

70

I got Last Airbender for Christmas... I had to just move on, but in my head it was just a big "eeeeehhhhh".
It's the only one on the list I saw, because I liked the series. Skyline was ok for the idea, I liked the detail of the light taking people over. I accepted the campiness of the acting, but it got bad, weird, and uncomfortable at the end. Lots of "come on... really" being shouted by my friend and I.

SapphireD910 on Jan 8, 2011

71

Pardon me, but SKYLINE SUCKED! Horrible acting, horrible dialogue. The aliens were the only thing in this movie that was passable. It SUCKED SUCKED SUCKED!

i think your list holds up well considering that the movies you chose were ones with some of the highest expectations. the only thing i would address is that while the narnia movies suffer from abysmal casting choices (none of the children or ben barnes are good enough to carry a film), most of your criticism of the plot points/themes being lifted from other movies is unfair considering that they are core to a book written over half a century ago. otherwise, i can pretty much agree with your list.

I agree with Jonah Hex being the worst. It's even worse than Wild Wild West. Now that's saying something.

Last Son on Jan 9, 2011

80

"I always knew you were a bender." Saw the end of Airbender as we all knew it, ha!

Anonymous on Jan 9, 2011

81

I disagree about all except, Narnia, and Joahna Hex. didnt really feel interested in those 2.

Spindle on Jan 9, 2011

82

I actually thought Clash of the Titans was pretty good! It wasn't as good as the original but decent enough to keep me watching. Only thing about that movie I hated was the guy at Argos who told the people they should serve Hades. He could NOT act to save his life! The Last Airbender was okay for kids. I thought it tried to rush an entire season in two hours with okay to blah acting. If you go into these movies with no expectations, you just might enjoy yourself 🙂

Judasbarronx1 on Jan 9, 2011

83

These reviews aren't negative enough for what these movies actually were

Polaris on Jan 10, 2011

84

Yes, Please put Skyline on that list. Narnia and Grown Up's cant be worse than Skyline. I have to say nothing is worse than Skyline this year!!!!

More than 45min of Clash of the Titans was cut out, 1 day we will get a Director's Cut, and hopefully it will go off this worst of 2010 list....nothing wrong with having hope...

David Banner on Jan 12, 2011

87

Good list as far as hype for a movie, although like many have said skyline without a doubt has been one of the worst movies I have seen in years and would rank in 1. There are obvious bad movies like vampire sucks but there were no real expectations of the movie.

Deslock777 on Jan 15, 2011

88

Tooth Fairy anyone associated with the film should and IM not kidding, kill themselves

Nos on Jan 16, 2011

89

Possibly the worst movie I've ever seen, (D-wars excluded, i don't even consider that a movie lol) was the Warrior's Way... the concept was passable, but the execution was just that- an execution. They slaughtered the entire movie with horrible acting, retarded special effects, and a script written (hell i dunno, it might not have even BEEN written... maybe they were ad libbing the whole thing) entirely by orangutans on 'shrooms.

Anthon C Pendergrass on Jan 19, 2011

90

I don't understand why everyone hates Skyline so so much. It's a very mediocre movie, with cheesy dialogue and a silly plot progression, but it was certainly a watchable film, with excellent visual effects, and some really cool scenes. I just don't know how people can say it's the worst movie ever. I mean there's absolutely horrible movies like Alone in the Dark, and Battlefield Earth, and those movies a million times worse than Skyline. Everyone who disagrees... I just can't see their point of view. The movie really wasn't that bad, unless you're comparing it to The Dark Knight or something.

Aldonn on Jan 20, 2011

91

I writhing a sequel to King Kong and It'll be made into the best ever Kong movie. you heathens will go back to see it over and over again.

Anonymous on Mar 12, 2011

92

Johnah Hex was something I really was looking forward to but after reading all the negative stuff about it...I think I'll just pass.
Narnia I have a bias against because of the overtly religious source material.
Now to The Last Airbender. Here is the perfect example on how to destroy a really good franchise. M. Night Shyamalan was once heralded as one of Hollywoods most innovative directors. But something happened, it started with the piece of crap called Lady in the water and continued with The Happening. The Last Airbender could either save or ruin his career completely. In a way, both happened. He is no longer regarded as a good director but the movie made a profit, smaller than expected but still, profit.